Cleveland City Council Meeting Summary - September 22, 2025
Cleveland City Council Meeting Summary - September 22, 2025
The Cleveland City Council held its regular meeting on September 22, 2025, at City Hall. The meeting included public comments, the passage of numerous ordinances and resolutions, and a farewell tribute to Councilmember Kerry McCormick, who will leave the council. All votes were unanimous (16-0) unless noted.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Reverend Pamela Pinckney (Pamela's People's Action Committee, Mothers' Lives Matter) spoke about the undervalued role of mothers in society, citing lack of resources and recognition, particularly for non-white mothers. She called for greater support and an end to systemic blame.
- Milana Mills (Mothers' Lives Matter) shared her personal story of trauma and survival, promoting her book "The Little Girl Who Led the March for the Black Nationalist."
- Brenda Bickerstaff (Citizens for Safer Cleveland, Ward 9) requested under Ohio Revised Code 149.43 a copy of the investigator file regarding the censure of Councilman Joe Jones. She argued that council members voted without full information and criticized the process.
- Daryl Houston (Bedford Heights) expressed frustration with the council's handling of the Jones matter, emphasized due process, and complained about discrimination in business leasing downtown. He threatened to file public records requests.
- Stephanie Thomas (Ward 11, self-represented) opposed a proposed gas station at the former CVS on West Boulevard and Madison. She shared her recovery story and argued the station would harm the neighborhood, especially a sober house she manages. She urged the council to table the legislation.
- Fauzi Badour (Coalition for Better Cleveland, Ward 11) opposed the same gas station, noting that the Board of Zoning Appeals and Planning Commission had denied variances. He referenced the September primary election results, stating that voters in the Codell and Edgewater neighborhoods opposed the gas station and that Councilman Danny Kelly should honor their will.
- David Hill (representing Play, Cleveland) spoke against the city's decision to board up Play in the Flats after a shooting. He argued the venue was unfairly labeled a public nuisance and that the city's actions stigmatized his business and employees.
- Amber Gibbs (CEO, Cuyahoga County Board of Developmental Disabilities) highlighted the 20th anniversary of the board's 3.9-mill continuous levy, which provides 2/3 of its $180 million budget. She reported serving 5,000 Cleveland residents and 15,000 countywide (a 20% increase since 2005). She detailed services provided and announced recent accessibility upgrades in city parks and facilities.
- Kareem Hinton (Black Lives Matter, Ward 14) called for scrutiny of the Sheriff's Department after two fatal vehicle pursuits, both initiated by the same deputy. He cited the March 28, 2025 death of a nurse and the August 24, 2025 death of a mother of two, and argued the deputy was not removed from duty after the first incident.
Legislation and Resolutions
All legislation was passed unanimously (16-0) after motions to suspend the rules.
First Reading – Emergency Ordinances:
- Ordinance 1168-2025: Authorizing contracts for calibration and maintenance of water testing equipment (Hatch Company).
- Ordinance 1174-2025: Renaming a portion of E. 159th Street to Euclid Beach Boulevard.
- Ordinance 1170-2025: Loan agreement with Gateway 66 Limited Partnership for affordable housing in Ward 7.
- Ordinance 1173-2025: Amendment to a prior agreement with Bel Air Puritist Development Corporation.
First Reading – Emergency Resolutions:
- Resolution 1171-2025: Withdrawing objection to liquor permit transfer at 15521 St. Clair Avenue.
- Resolution 1172-2025: Objecting to a new liquor permit at 12107 St. Clair Avenue.
- Resolution 1176-2025: Designating October 2025 as Sudden Unexpected Death and Epilepsy Awareness Month.
- Resolution 1177-2025: Objecting to a new liquor permit at 7123 Lorain Avenue.
Second Reading – Emergency Ordinances (27 items): Included contracts for landscape materials, petroleum fuels, bonds for trucks and equipment ($8.5M), park improvements ($12M), buildings ($25.5M), street improvements ($28M), water meter maintenance, debris disposal, fencing, HVAC, backup electrical gear, proprietary replacement parts for port control, roof repairs, lease for a podcast studio at Burke Lakefront Airport, snow removal, radiation monitoring, tax abatement exemption, and grants for specialized dockets. Councilwoman Stephanie House Jones noted that the amended amounts for ordinances 673-678 were not reflected in the titles read, but the clerk confirmed the amendments would carry in the official record.
Second Reading – Emergency Resolutions:
- Resolution 1098-2025: Requesting county fiscal officer advances for 2026.
- Resolution 1099-2025: Accepting tax levy rates and certifying them to the county.
Condolence and Congratulatory Resolutions
- Five resolutions of condolence were adopted for individuals including Hazel A. Coleman, Samuel Thomas Jackson Jr., Joseph DeJarnett Jr., Ernest Farmer, and Lizette Quinones.
- Congratulatory resolutions recognized Felicia Latrice Morton, Village Family Farms Thurgood Marshall Green Grand Opening, Western Reserve Conservancy, Lewis Stokes Visionary Award, and East Technical High School Class of 1975.
Introductions and Announcements
- Councilman Michael Palencic introduced former County Commissioner Tim McCormick and the family of Councilman Kerry McCormick.
- Councilman Anthony Hairston introduced Housing Court Judge W. Monet Scott and her staff.
- Councilman Brian Casey announced the third annual Music Keynote presentation to the band Bone Thugs-n-Harmony on Sunday, September 28, 2025 at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.
- Councilwoman Stephanie House Jones invited the public to the Commission for Black Women and Girls meeting on October 1 and the Mid-Autumn Festival on September 27.
- Councilman Joe Jones announced a Housing Court Resource Clinic on September 25 at the Harvard Community Service Center.
- Councilman Richard Starr announced a Housing Court Resource Clinic on October 16 in the now Ward 9/future Ward 6 area.
Farewell to Councilmember Kerry McCormick
Council President Blaine Griffin led a tribute to Councilman Kerry McCormick, who attended his last regular meeting after nine and a half years representing Ward 3. Griffin praised McCormick as a dedicated public servant and friend. Councilmembers Jasmine Santana, Richard Starr, Michael Palencic, Brian Casey, and Kevin Conwell offered heartfelt remarks. McCormick gave an emotional farewell speech, recalling key moments of joy, tragedy, hope, help, progress, community, challenge, and love during his service. He thanked his family, including his father Tim McCormick (former county commissioner), his partner Daniel, and introduced his successor Lauren Welsh, who will fill the remainder of his term.
Key Outcomes
- All 30+ ordinances and resolutions were passed unanimously (16-0).
- The council bid farewell to Councilman Kerry McCormick, with his successor Lauren Welsh set to assume the Ward 3 seat.
- No other votes or formal actions were taken.
Meeting Transcript
Madam Clerk, please call the role. Griffin here, Bishop, Conwell, Gray, Hairston, Harsh, House Jones, Jones, Casey, Kelly, Moore, McCormack, Polensick, Santana, Slife, Spencer, Star. You have a quorum, Mr. President. Thank you. Will everyone rise for a moment of silence, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance. Thank you. I pledge allegiance to the flag. And to the Republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all. Thank you. I'll make the following statement. This meeting of Cleveland City Council is a lawful meeting under section six oh five. Members of the public are invited to and speak only under the rules set by this council. Disruptions, including but not limited to speaking out of turn and making loud noises and loud utterances are in violation of the rules and interfere with the due conduct of this lawful meeting. Such disruptions may constitute a misdemeanor and a violation of section six oh five. Anyone who disrupts this lawful meeting in violation of the codified ordinances commits misdemeanors and is subject to prosecution. The following is the first and only warning. Oath of office for Dave Telbin, Captain of Fire. Excuse me, 2025. Oath of office for Myron Jackson, Lieutenant of Fire. Without objection, plat approved. From the Ohio Division of Liquor Control, file number 1187 2025 regarding a transfer of ownership application at 5915 St. Clair Avenue War 10. Thank you. We'll now move to public comment. And I'd ask all of the council members to turn around to acknowledge the speakers and ask all the speakers to acknowledge your time. First and foremost, we have Reverend Pamela Pinckney from Cleveland, legislation and the impact on mothers. She's uh representing Pamela's People's Action Committee and Mothers' Lives Matter. Miss Pinkney, you have to be able to do it. Good evening, everyone. I'm Pamela, uh, 2028 presidential candidate for the United States of America. And as I spoke on last week, I was introducing a new trajectory. A trajectory basically determines the way that we're moving forward and upward. And this week, I would like to talk to about mothers. In such a time as this, the place, position, purpose, and presentation of the mother, it must come forth. It has been very underidentified, unrecognized, and mobilized, and very unspecified. The mother, the mom, the life and the role of us. Religions have defined and described what they believe it to be. Politicians have created laws defining and describing what it must be. Artists and entertainers have portrayed who and what we appear to be. Scientists have made their hypothesis and chemical equations and their limited knowledge of the physical, physiological, psychological, psychiatric, emotional, and neurological makeup of what their conclusion is regarding us, still not yet adequately defined, described, determined, delivered by any of them, even today in society. In many cases, some do not fully recognize the fact that mothers' lives, mom's lives, really do matter. There are no real programs that properly fulfill our needs and concerns. When success is recognized, we are bypassed for the fathers and our children. We are not recognized as also being the core of the success. However, when disaster impacts the family, we are recognized as the core of the blame. We are denied resources, rescue, adequate support, equal rights, and opportunities, especially we who are non-white. Those who signed the United States Constitution were white males with white female counterparts. We are denied the right to protect and provide for our people of our concern, including ourselves. My rights to keep them as well as myself safe to provide for us through the halls and walls of justice and the realms of religion.
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